Longtime known as the “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, dismissed the introduction Beyonce made to Tina Turner’s performance, when she referred to her as “the queen,” calling it a “cheap shot for controversy.”

“There is one legend who has the essence of all of those things: the glamour, the soul, the passion, the strength, the talent,” Beyonce said in her speech. “Ladies and gentlemen, stand on your feet and give it up for the queen.”

Apparently, the fact that Franklin’s name came second on a star-studded list with music’s greatest female voices topped by Tina Turner, hurt the singer’s ego who released a statement on Tuesday objecting Beyonce’s remark.

“I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyoncé, however, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy,” Franklin said. “In addition to that, I thank the Grammys and the voting academy for my 20th Grammy and love to Beyoncé anyway.”

However, Grammy producer Ken Ehrilch came to Beyonce’s defense saying that not only does she idolize Franklin, but her “queen” quip was innocent.
“It was an innocent remark,” Ehrlich said. “It certainly wasn't meant to disparage Aretha. Aretha has been and continues to be a very important part of the music industry and transcends labels. That's why the Recording Academy gave her the honor of MusiCares Person of the Year and invited her to perform on the Grammys.”

Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé's father and manager, declined to get a comment from his daughter.

“I'm not even going to take this to her,” he said. “Something this ridiculous, it's childish, it's unprofessional. And it's a sad day when egos get bruised because somebody used the word king, queen, prince or princess.”

During Turner’s performance, Beyonce joined her on stage where the two performed “Proud Mary” for which Turner won a Grammy in 1972.